Page 88 of Brandon’s Mate

Where the hell was Kitty?

That feeling was clawing at his stomach now—it made it hard to get his breath. Just like that time a year ago, when he’d felt her danger from halfway across the country.

She was still inside.

As he opened the door to the truck, dark bodies hurtled towards him out of the sky, with raucous war cries. Half a dozen giant crows swooped down, battering at him, their deadly talons scraping his face, his scalp, going for his eyes.

He smacked them away, punching at them desperately. He had to get to Kitty, but he could see more shifter crows swirling down, and flocks of normal crows as well.

The sky was a swirl of midnight-black wings, deadly beaks and talons.

He shut the truck door on them, screaming in outrage. They thudded against the windows, shaking the truck. One of the windows cracked. They were trying to batter their way inside.

The ghost panthers circled the truck, panicking.

The feeling in his gut exploded, and he damn near turned panther right there in the driver’s seat. Not now, he begged his cat. Kitty needs us human.

And she needed him now. He reached under the seat for his gun, and made sure it had a full clip.

Then he slammed the truck door open, knocking a couple of crows across the parking lot.

He shot into the flock, scattering them, then got out and vaulted into the back of the truck. He grabbed the fire extinguisher out of his toolbox.

It would be a drop in the ocean against the inferno in front of him, but it just might buy Kitty a way out.

The crows dove, slashing at him with their talons, trying to tear him with their beaks. He shot into the flock again, hearing more shrieks as the bullets connected.

In moments he was back inside the cab, scratched and bloodied.

Okay, Kitty. I’m coming.

Then he gunned the motor and headed his truck straight for the side of the building.

Chapter 39

Kitty crawled along the floor, dragging Callie with her. Kitty was still fighting the drugs, fighting panic, fighting Monster Wolf—every foot she traveled felt like a mile.

They were never going to make it.

She was trapped in the nightmare; she didn’t know if she was awake or dreaming, in the Crows’ Nest or back in the burning cabin.

It didn’t matter. No one would ever see her again. She’d never go home, never see her family. Never be with Brandon.

At the thought of him, something wild inside her burned through her despair. You’re stronger than that. You were raised better.

Her mother: Never submit, never let them break you. Her father: Dig your jaws in and don’t give up until they tap out. They can’t beat you if you never give up.

She would not give in to the despair, she would not give into the drugs, and she would not give in to the monster.

She crawled forward, trying to head for the clearest spot. One more foot, then another. The flames licked across the bar, rising ever higher. If she didn’t get out soon, their way would be blocked.

And then the front end of a pickup truck smashed through the windows. It immediately reversed back, engine grinding, leaving a hole in the wall. A minute later a man strode through the smoke and flames, battering flaming rubble away.

Brandon. With a fire extinguisher, spraying a path through the flames to get them to safety.

But it was too late. Kitty heard an ominous creaking overhead. She cried out, but Brandon didn’t hear her. Part of the ceiling collapsed, and a broken beam hurtled down.

Kitty dropped Callie and hunched over her. Brandon jumped back just in time, and the beam caught her across the upper back.